Manchester United showed their defensive frailties yet again this weekend as they managed to gift Ronald Koeman’s Everton a point after leading for most of the game. The manager will be disappointed at how they managed to let the lead slip away and will be hoping that they can fight back strongly in this busy part of the season.
However, with the January transfer window coming up, the manager is also looking to add a few players to help them compete with the best and his biggest requirement is a central defender. With Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly picking up injuries, Mourinho has used the likes of Phil Jones, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo in that position recently and this is why a recent report will hurt the manager at Old Trafford.
Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels recently spoke to the media about a few interesting things and he revealed in this interview that he was not too far away from joining the Old Trafford outfit a few years ago. According to the former Borussia Dortmund man, former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal tried to sign him in 2014 and Hummels was close to making the switch.
He also revealed that Louis van Gaal also spoke to him about a move but revealed that he is happy in Germany at the moment. It could have been a huge swoop for the Red Devils who will now have to spend big on a central defender to help them compete with the best teams in the League. So how would the United defence have looked with Hummels in it?
At 28, Hummels is one of the most established central defenders in Europe at the moment and has been superb in the Bundesliga for more than a couple of years now. He helped the Dortmund side to a couple of league titles under Jurgen Klopp and has made himself one of the most dependable defenders in the world.
If he makes a move to Old Trafford, there is not even a speckle of doubt that he would be the first choice for Jose Mourinho. Known for his strength and ability to read the game, Hummels is also strong in the air making him a perfect suit for the Premier League.
He would have taken up one of the two positions in the middle at the back with Chris Smalling, the first choice center back last season, keeping his place on the other side. This duo could have easily formed a top class partnership as both of them are experienced and have a similar style of play that would have allowed the manager to put in a more attacking lineup in the outfield.
Phil Jones and Eric Bailly would have worked as understudies for Smalling with Jones as the fourth choice, leaving Blind, Rojo, Darmian, Shaw, Young and Valencia all fighting for the full-back spots. It is a lineup that seems like one of the strongest in the league but it will only stay as a distant dream for the Red Devils.
Hummels’ exploits at the back could have also helped Manchester United get the best out of Paul Pogba in midfield making the whole team a lot stronger. But United failed to land him in 2014 and are still in search of a top class defender who can cement a place in the side for years to come. Hummels is easily one of the best defenders in Europe and is one that cannot easily be replaced.
Do you think Mats Hummels could have helped Manchester United have a different start to the season?